NewsXtra

Six of the best iOS accessories

Six of the best gadgets and gizmos on a theme. This week: Six of the best iOS accessories.

By Peter Jenkinson For the time being, it would appear that Apple has the upper hand over its competitors.

The range of accessories available for the iOS family is massive - and it's continuing to grow.

Here are six items to set your iPad, iPhone or iPod apart from the crowd.

Scan-in' - DOCS2GO Scanner for iPad - £149.99 from www.firebox.com Taking the tablet one step further towards competing with the laptop is this super-smart device. This portable scanner will copy any photo or document up to A4 size directly on to your iPad. Just slot your document into the scanner - whether you're at home, work or the local coffee shop - and marvel as it appears on the screen.

Stand up - Speck iGuy Case and Stand - from £22.97 from www.mobilefun.co.uk There is a strong chance this case was designed with under-10s in mind. But if you want to protect your iPad or iPad mini from bumps, drops and other altercations with solid surfaces, then this grin-inducing foam case is ideal for children and adults alike.

Superior speaker - Zeppelin Air - £499 from www.johnlewis.com This splendid Bowers & Wilkins audio system is the latest in digital signal processing. With Apple's AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream music from your iPod directly to the Zeppelin Air, as well as filling your rooms with a punchier, richer sound. This finely crafted unit will look the business in your abode too.

Eighties update - 3D Movie Viewer - £11.99 from www.find-me-a-gift.com Who remembers the View-Master from the 1980s? This lookalike device has been given a 21st century makeover. Download film trailers and more on YouTube by searching for YT3D, slip in your iPhone 4 or 4S into the handheld viewer, then enjoy the in-your-face 3D footage that follows.

Easy listening - Jukebox Dock - £89.95 from www.johnlewis.com There are speaker docks aplenty out there, from the miniature to the oversized, but for something that stands out from the crowd, consider this retro number. The neon-style trim gives this speaker dock a real vintage feel, while the cradle is suitable for all your iOS devices and it delivers a decent sound from the integrated stereo speakers.

Tap away - Logitech Logicool Solar Keyboard Folio Case - £107.62 from www.johnlewis.com Taping on your touchscreen keyboard can be a tad frustrating. But this keyboard/cover combo for the latest iPad and iPad 2 is sure to be a worthwhile investment for anyone who does a fair amount of typing. Powered by light so it doesn't eat into your battery life, it doubles up as a hard-wearing case to protect your device from bumps and scratches.

App of the week - Angry Birds Star Wars - Free from Google Play and iTunes Rovio has managed to breath new life into the Angry Birds franchise - and it's near perfection. Set in a galaxy far, far away, use your lightsaber and Jedi powers to blast away the pigtroopers. With new worlds and new weapons, there's plenty to differentiate this game from its predecessor.